Overview
Through C-FAR, industry representatives and researchers throughout
Illinois identify the highest priority research needs for our state's
food, agricultural and environmental systems. To address these
needs, C-FAR funds are allocated to support targeted research through
several programs - the External Competitive Grants Program, partner
university internal research programs and strategic research initiatives.
The Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) research
portfolio is comprised of three programs: the External Competitive Grants
Program; University Internal Programs (competitive and other) at the four
universities; and the Strategic Research Initiatives. The funding available
for each of these programs is driven largely by the C-FAR appropriation.
The available funding, in turn, dictates how many research initiatives
can be funded within each program. The following flowchart depicts these
programs.
Characteristics of the three C-FAR research programs follows.
All proposals funded through each program are based on the
C-FAR research focus areas (www.ilcfar.org/research/priorities.html).
External Competitive Grants Program
- Funded at 15% of the C-FAR appropriation (per the Food
and Agriculture Research Act)
- Two-step proposal process - pre-proposal and full proposal
- General schedule: request and submission of pre-proposals
- September/October; invitation and submission of full
proposals - December/January; funding decisions - when
the C-FAR appropriation is enacted by the State of Illinois
(Spring/Summer)
- The specific schedule for each fiscal year's program
is communicated by C-FAR to department heads/chairs for
distribution to faculty and staff
- Proposals funded for one, two or three years
- Maximum funding is $150,000 (regardless of project duration)
- C-FAR working group participants are engaged in all
aspects of this program
- Full proposals are evaluated by C-FAR working group
participants and may be assisted by a selected scientific
advisor(s)
University Internal Programs (UIUC, SIUC,
ISU, WIU)
- Funded via the balance of the C-FAR appropriation after
15% is directed to the External Competitive Grants Program
and funds directed to the SRI program, administrative
office, and achievement award
- Funding to each university is percentage driven, per
the Food and Agriculture Research Act. Currently: UIUC
- 82%, SIUC - 11%, ISU - 4%, WIU - 3%. These percentages
are reviewed and set every three years by the Director
of the Illinois Department of Agriculture upon a recommendation
from the C-FAR Board of Directors (These percentages have
not changed since they were initially established in FY96
and are currently in place for FY08-FY10)
- The majority of funding is utilized for a competitive
grants program. Each of the four universities are conducting
such programs in FY08
- The schedules for university internal programs vary
and are typically conducted late summer to early fall.
Research leaders at each university communicate these
details
- UIUC employs two competitive programs pending sufficient
funding being available - a standard competitive grants
program and the Sentinel Program. The Sentinel Program
invests in longer-term research initiatives than the standard
competitive program (only the Sentinel Program will be
conducted in FY08)
- All four universities engage, in varying ways, C-FAR
stakeholder members input when reviewing and prioritizing
research proposals to fund
- All four universities typically allocate small amount
of funds to various infrastructure needs (i.e., personnel,
laboratory improvements, etc.)
Strategic Research Initiatives (SRIs) (1)
- Two-step proposal process - pre-proposal and full proposal
- SRIs are funded for three, four or five years
- Maximum funding per SRI is $300,000 per year
- The SRI Program will not seek new initiatives in FY08;
the program is slated to be conducted during 2007-2008
for FY09 funding
- The schedule for the next SRI program will be communicated
by C-FAR to department heads/chairs for distribution to
faculty and staff
(1) These SRI program characteristics
are representative of its last issuance. These protocols
are subject to change by the C-FAR Research Committee before
its next issuance.
Program Coordination
While the three C-FAR research programs are distinct, there
is collaboration and cooperation among all entities to ensure
there is no unintended duplication of funded research.
Questions
Contact Kraig Wagenecht - C-FAR Executive Administrator:
217.244.4232 or wagenech@illinois.edu (for External and
SRI Programs)
Or, the respective university research leader: UIUC (Dr.
Fahey), SIUC (Dr. Russin), ISU (Dr. Rhykerd), WIU (Dr. Bailey)
(for university internal programs)
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